Flea Control

One of the major problems with flea control is dealing with the population. For instance, the adult fleas that you see hopping on your dog or cat are only about 1% of the entire population that is in house. Statistically speaking, this means that for every flea you see, there are 99 more lurking somewhere in your house or yard. The adult female flea can lay from ten to fifty eggs a day in appropriate weather, meaning that fleas prefer the warm and somewhat humid weather, thus the reason they are more plentiful in the summertime. Fleas lay their eggs on the “host,” meaning your dog or cat, but most will fall into your carpet or into the yard.

Because they lay so many eggs at one time and they hatch so readily, it’s important to make sure that we follow step not just for taking care of the cat or dog but the entire house and yard as well. Doing that may take a combination of home remedies combined with some natural cures that experts know work. Between the two methods, you should be able to keep your flea problem under control during the spring and summer months.

One important thing to remember is prevention is the most important aspect of flea control. Since fleas tend to prefer hosts that are very young (puppies and kittens) or those whose health is not in tiptop shape, be certain that your dog and cat have a healthy diet. From a nutritional standpoint, expert believe the best diet is one that consists of biologically raw food, but since most people are unable to provide their pets with a raw food diet, the next best thing is a processed food diet that does not contain any fillers, chemical preservatives, or food coloring. You can feed your dog a combination of canned and dry foods, but you should feed a cat mostly canned food, dehydrated or freeze-dried.

Home Remedies for Flea Control:

Supplements:

Supplements to the diet can also help with nutrition. Essential fatty acids will help with boosting the immune system. Garlic and B vitamins are good for warding off fleas as they don’t like the taste. Garlic and brewer’s yeast is good to give your pet during the flea season to keep them away.

Flea Comb:

Use a flea comb daily and if you locate fleas in the comb, drown them in soapy water.

Neem:

Neem Oil products are good for repelling fleas. Neem oil spray, shampoo, and conditioner repel fleas as well as sooth and heal irritated skin.

Bite This:

Place a drop of Bite This essential oil underneath your pet’s collar. You can also dilute it into a bottle to use as a spray on your dog. Other essential oils that tend to be flea repellent include cedar, tea tree, citronella, eucalyptus, and pennyroyal (the least two should not be used on cats). For cats, take some Only Natural Pet herbal Defense Spray onto a cloth and wipe it on gently. Word of caution: do not use any of these essential oils if you are treated your pet with homeopathy.

Only Natural:

Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy can be used for your dog or your cat as well as around the house. The suggested use is 1 teaspoon for each ten pounds of body weight. It is non-toxic, so it is not harmful if your pet should lick it.

Soap:

Bathing your pet in flea-repellent soaps is a good way to get rid of fleas. You can add a couple of drops of essential oils to the oatmeal variety to make it less attractive to fleas.